Diseases like needle cast are becoming more prevalent in regions like the Northeast, where rising temperatures have also increased humidity.
“If you prematurely take away that ma- terial, you might expose interiors to sun exposure,” Borden said, particularly for trees with horizontal branches, which can potentially cause further damage. Waiting can be especially important because heat-related damage does not always reveal itself immediately. In some cases, the full extent of the dam- age may not become apparent until the following spring. “When you see it next spring during the leaf out, you’ll see which branches were damaged.” While patience can help arborists de- termine what damage actually needs to be addressed, there are other steps that can be taken in the meantime to help trees recover. One of the most important is maintaining adequate soil moisture well beyond the end of summer. WATERING ISN’T JUST FOR SUMMER Tree experts concur that continuing to water into fall and winter can be criti-
mean resisting the urge to intervene too quickly. HELPING SOMETIMES MEANS STAYING HANDS-OFF As temperatures cool and fall sets in, trees begin to recover and prepare for dormancy. It’s also a time when many people are tempted to address the vis- ible damage left behind by a difficult summer. But when it comes to heat-stressed trees, doing more is not always better. “When you have that portion of the canopy that has suffered severe stress, humans have a tendency to want to jump in and help the tree right away,” Borden said. “We prefer to let the tree tell you where the damage occurred.” Rather than immediately removing damaged material, Borden explained that it is often better to allow the tree time to reveal which portions of the canopy have actually been affected.
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